Key Verses:
“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” –Matthew 9:37-38 (NKJV)

Key Words:
vv. 8, 30 A great work of spiritual harvest needed to be done, but the labors were few. Sadly the problem persists to this very day, it seems; the need is always greater than the work-force. The Lord Jesus told the disciples to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Notice here that the need does not constitute a call. Remember, that workers in the fields of the Lord should not go until we are called and sent, (MacDonald, 1995, p. 1237).

Thought:
According to Hudson Taylor, “When God’s work is done in God’s way for God’s glory, it will never lack God’s supply. God is not obligated to pay for our selfish schemes. He is obligated to support His ministry,” (Green, 2000, p. 404).

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, as Isaiah said, “Here I am Lord, send me” for I truly want to be a vessel of yours. Help me to hear your call, accept it and obey.

Questions:
Read Matthew 9:37-38. What was Jesus' solution to the problem He saw before him?

How can we prepare for the harvest? Are you ready for harvesting? What do we need to do to be a worker in God's harvest fields?

Key Verses:
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here. 8 ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.” –Zechariah 3:7-8 (NKJV)

Key Reflection:
vv. 7-8 By the guilt of our sins we are detestable to God’s justice, and by the power of our sins we are abhorrent to His holiness. For us who belong to the Branch, Christ, we will be enabled to cast off the filthy rags of corrupt affections and lusts and will be clothed with the spotless robe of His righteousness. Only then can He place us in positions of honor and trust in His service.

Thought:
Thomas J. Watson, Sr. died six weeks after naming his son as the new head of IBM, the company the elder Watson had led for more than forty years. The junior Watson said his promotion made him “the most frightened man in America.” But he took the helm and led IBM into the computer era and ten-fold corporate growth. His success was made possible, he said later, by his dad’s confidence in and acceptance of him during his college years, when he was more interested in flying airplanes than in studying or applying himself. (Today in the Word, February 7, 1997, p. 14).

Prayer:
Father, thank you for Your acceptance of us, even when we were yet sinners. You see us as you created us to be, and as we will be not as we are.

Questions:
What admonishment does the angel of the Lord give to Joshua? (Zech. 3:7)

Who is the Lord going to bring in? (Zech. 3:8). To whom does this refer?

Key Verses:
“Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider it: 19 Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.” - Haggai 2:18-19 (NKJV)

Key Reflection:
vv.18-19 If we take no care of the interests of God’s work, we cannot expect that He should take care of all our interests. If we are employed in His work, we should be jealous over ourselves, lest we spoil it by going about it with unsanctified hearts and hands, (Brooks, 2001, p. 204).

Thought:
There are many reasons why we may obey someone, including God. What are yours? Fear? Obeying because you have to? Reward? Obeying because you get something out of it? Love? Obeying because you love Christ and your fellow man? (Green, 2000, p. 253).

Prayer:
Ask God to mold you to be used for His purpose, His will, and in His way; do your part and be available to Him always. Then get ready to see the power of the Lord work in you and through you.

Questions:
God sees their change of heart and promises a harvest of blessing to come in Haggai 2:15-19; have you a change of heart? Is it sincere and authentic?